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SuperSport United have received a boost to their defensive line-up with the return from injury of Grant Kekana.

The former AmaTuks defender operates mainly at right-back but has shown his versatility across the back-line over the years.

This could come in handy if SuperSport's central defender Clayton Daniels, recently involved in a minor car accident, is unable to take to the field this weekend.

SuperSport are scheduled to take on Pirates at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday evening at 18:00 in a league fixture.

Kekana is yet to play in the league this season, having suffered a hamstring injury in the first match of the campaign, a 3-2 win over Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila in the MTN8 quarter-finals, when he was substituted at half-time.

The 28-year-old has, however, now recovered and is keen to get back on the field, as he told the Sowetan:

“I have recovered from my injury, so I am in contention to play against Pirates."

Matsatsantsa have let in five goals in their last four matches, including shipping three in a single game against Golden Arrows in late October.

Kekana, however, feels that it would be wrong to start pointing fingers at specific individuals.

“We are a team that don't concede easily," he said. "I think we've been unfortunate in the past games to concede, but the blame should be shouldered by the team, not individuals."

Daniels, and the young Keenan Phillips are the only two players to have started all three league games for SuperSport this season.

Veterans Bongani Khumalo and Onismor Bhasera have each played twice and otherwise SuperSport don’t really have a whole lot of cover at the back – their other options include Luke Fleurs, still a relative newcomer to to Premier Soccer League (PSL) as well as Thatayaone Ditlhokwe from Botswana and 19-year-old Mpho Mathebula; both of whom have very minimal top-flight experience.

Pirates, meanwhile, have been in hot scoring form and Kekana’s return will no doubt be appreciated by SuperSport's head coach Kaitano Tembo.

Uganda U20 head coach Morley Byekwaso has named a 20-man squad for the upcoming African Cup of Nations Cecafa zonal qualifiers to be held in Arusha, Tanzania.

Son to Uganda’s music star Bebe Cool, Ssali Alpha Thierry has been named in the squad for the tournament that will take place from November 23 to December 6.

Gavin Kizito has recovered from a malaria attack that sidelined him from the KCCA FC friendly during the week and has been named in the travelling squad too.

Ivan Asaba has also been named after he had suffered a strain on his ankle while Andrew Kawoya, Ivan Eyamu, Robert Kitabalwa, Sunday Opio, Umar Lutalo, Jamal Masiko, Wilber Wamala and Derrick Kakooza have all been omitted after training for eight days with the rest.

The Hippos will leave for the tournament on Friday.

Tanzania, the defending champions and the hosts, are in Group A alongside Somalia and Djibouti. In Group B, Uganda, Eritrea and South Sudan are the rivals while Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan are in Group C.

Cecafa has already named the officials to oversee the junior tournament and the general coordinators are Victor Lwal of South Sudan and Tanzania's Baraka Kizungutu. They will be assisted by Yacoub Elmi of Djibouti and Issam Shaban of Sudan.

The refereeing committee members’ are Celestine Ntangungira of Rwanda while Leslie Liunda of Tanzania will be the instructor and Kenya’s Sylvester Kirwa has been appointed as a member.

The match commissioners are Amable Habimana, Elfaith Bani, Makur Majok, and Omar Muhammed Nur.

The 11 referees have been selected and they include William Oloya, Martin Sanya, Chief Florentina Zablon, Houssein Mansour Saddam, Malong Ring, Mogos Teklu, Hussein Ahmed Hassan, Tadesse Belay, Nsoro Ruzindana, Mpaima Israel, Eltreefe and Elsiddig.

Emmanuel Okudra, Fides Bangurambona, Ahmed Liban Abdourazak, Mohamed Mkono, Hellen Mduma, George Primato Olibo, Desire Nkurunziza, Joshua Achila, Belachew Tigle, Ghebreslase Yohannes Tewelde, Raymond Nonati Bwiliza, Mohamed Nour Abdi, and Ahmed Omer Hamid have been appointed as the assistant referees.

Uganda squad: Ssenyondwa Denis Kaala, Bbosa Richard, Kayondo Abdu Aziizi, Musa Ramathan, Kizito Mugweri Gavin, Semakula Kenneth, Mugulusi Isma, Sserwadda Steven, Bogere Ivan, Bukenya Joseph Kizza.

Asaba Ivan, Kafumbe Joseph, Onyai Raymond, Mulindi Ashraf, Byaruhanga Bobosi, Basangwa Richard, Wabyoona Faisal, Yiga Najib, Komakech Jack, and Ssali Alpha Thierry.

Rhulani Mokwena, one of the three Mamelodi Sundowns coaches, has underlined some of the challenges his team has faced in terms of preparing for Sunday's clash with AmaZulu.

Mokwena was referring mainly to the international break, with Sundowns having seen a large number of their players away on duty, not only for South Africa but also for some other countries across the continent.

This has added a challenge to the coaches, who are looking to keep Sundowns' positive start to the season going - Masandawana are currently top of the league standings with seven points from their three matches.

"It’s been a good week, but a bit of a complicated week, in the sense that we’ve had time on the pitch, and time is very valuable when you’re a football team," Mokwena told the media, as quoted by Idiskitimes.

"You want to work on certain schemes, you want to improve certain aspects of your game, and you can only do that when you have time on the pitch. And we’ve tried to exhaust that time as best as we can.”

Included the problems being faced are some niggling injury issues, as well as the challenge of preparing tactically without all of the players being present.

“We’ve had a couple of challenges, of course, because we are a big club, we have a lot of internationals, and then we’ve had a few injury concerns," Mokwena elaborated.

"So we haven’t had everybody back to work on these things, because when you want to work on tactical schemes, you need players available on the pitch to be able to improve these things, so that has been a little bit of a challenge, but we’re not complaining, we’ve worked really hard.”

The game against AmaZulu takes place at the Loftus Stadium on Sunday. And with Usuthu rejuvenated by new ownership and a raft of big-name signings, Sundowns are expecting an especially tough encounter.

“They come into this match with a lot of confidence, because they beat Black Leopards 2-0, and they beat Black Leopards really, really convincingly, with a very dominant and a very strong performance,” Mokwena pointed out.

“And they also coming into the game with a lot of good feelings in and around their space, because they’ve recruited well, they’ve signed some very good players, and qualitatively they’ve got a lot to offer, and we should expect a very competitive AmaZulu this season.”

Lionel Messi must be the Michael Jordan of Barcelona, according to presidential candidate Jordi Farre.

Barcelona have been without an official president since Josep Maria Bartomeu resigned at the end of October ahead of an expected vote of no confidence.

The presidential election is scheduled to take place on January 24, and Farre is among the candidates, though Victor Font is the heavy favourite to win.

After Messi handed in a transfer request at the start of the season before opting to stay at Camp Nou, Farre outlined his long-term plans for the six-time Ballon d'Or winner, comparing the Argentine to NBA Hall of Famer and Chicago Bulls great Jordan.

"Doubting what Messi has given us is even in bad taste," Farre told Esport3.

"Messi has to be offered a life project. We have to turn Messi into Barca's Jordan.

"We are working to offer Messi a project in the institutional life of the club."

Messi – out of contract at season's end – continues to be linked with Premier League giants Manchester City.

"We have already spoken with Messi's environment," Farre said. "We have a proposal. The offer is not economic.

"Leo has already made a lot of money. It is a love story. I am sure I have a project that will convince Messi."

Messi returned to Barca to work under new head coach Ronald Koeman after failing to engineer a move away, but 2020-21 has been far from a vintage season for the superstar captain.

The 33-year-old has scored three goals in seven La Liga games this term, while he has six across all competitions.

Messi's minutes per-goal-rate of 195 is only good enough for 28th among players to have featured in at least five La Liga games this season.

Barca – eighth in La Liga and nine points off the pace – travel to Atletico Madrid on Saturday following the international break.

Messi has scored 12 goals in 17 La Liga appearances against Atletico under Diego Simeone, more than any other player, whilst he is also the player to have scored the most La Liga goals against goalkeeper Jan Oblak (eight goals in 11 games).

Kakamega Homeboyz are among the 14 clubs that have signed an undertaking with the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to have the Premier League kick off on November 27.

According to a list of clubs that have signed a deal with the FKF and obtained by Goal, Homeboyz have joined the fray alongside promoted side Vihiga United.

Other clubs ready to kick off the season include AFC Leopards, Bandari, Sofapaka, Western Stima, Bidco United, Nairobi City Stars, KCB, Nzoia Sugar, Kariobangi Sharks, Posta Rangers, Wazito FC, and Tusker.

FKF boss Nick Mwendwa has now told Goal teams that will not have signed the undertaking by the league kick-off, will not get money from sponsors.

“We will give Sh2million to teams that will have signed the document and those that have not signed will not get anything,” Mwendwa told Goal on Friday.

Mwendwa has also confirmed that the Covid-19 test for all the team players will be conducted on Monday ahead of the return of the league.

“All the players from the clubs that have undertaken to sign the deal will undergo Covid-19 test from Monday, we will then launch the Betking Premier League on Friday,” Mwendwa continued.

Homeboyz chairman Clephas Shimanyula has confirmed signing the undertaking, saying all he wants now is to see football returning to Kenya.

“It is true we have signed the undertaking,” Shimanyula told Goal on Friday. “I was a very strong critic of Mwendwa’s administration and the day I wanted us to have him out of office, the same clubs ganged up against me to support him.

“So I don’t think it is time for us [the officials] to fight anymore, it is time to have the league played, it is time to have the action back and I hope the league will now start as planned so the players can also enjoy the action.”

On Wednesday, the FKF National Executive Committee appointed a Premier League Management Committee (PMC) ahead of the 2020/21 season.

The committee will be chaired by KCB FC chairperson Azu Ogola while Dan Shikanda of AFC Leopards, Robert Maoga of Kariobangi Sharks FC, Western Stima’s Laban Jobita, John Terry of Posta Rangers, Sofapaka’s Elly Kalekwa and Dennis Gicheru of Wazito FC are the other members.

The teams that have not signed the undertaking include Gor Mahia, Ulinzi Stars, Mathare United, and Zoo FC.

German defensive midfielder Joshua Kimmich was voted as the best player in the world in his position, beating out strong opponents becoming the sixth player to cement his position in the Goal's Top eleven powered by FIFA 21 as we attempt to identify who you think are the best footballers around the world.

Kimmich led the table with 69% of the votes (+21000) beating out the rest. Casemiro came in second with 20% of the votes (+6000) followed by Kante, Fabinho and Henderson with 1600, 870 and 820 votes respectively. 

Stay tuned to this space as we ask for your help to identify the best midfielders in their respective positions globally.

Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama inspected the ongoing construction of his proposed sports academy in Busia County on Thursday.

The construction work of the academy structures that sit on a 20-acre piece of land is still at the primary level.

According to the Victor Wanyama Foundation, the academy is expected to revolutionise sports, training and education in the country while at the same time providing key sporting infrastructure for the country.

The foundation has a long term vision of constructing an ultra-modern sports complex that will also have both indoor and outdoor sporting arenas.

The design works for the academy were completed one year ago and later paved way for the construction of the key infrastructure.

The foundation has not only limited its work to the western region as it has sponsored football activities aimed at nurturing talent in Nairobi.

They have also sponsored needy students for secondary education after excelling in their primary examinations.

“I feel honoured to be the ambassador for the foundation and I am really impressed with the work they have already achieved and the positive impact these efforts will have had on the various communities in the slum regions of Nairobi,” Wanyama said when he launched the foundation earlier.

“Football has a way of bringing people together and gives young people a focus and a strong sense of community, discipline, and respect. 

"I am looking forward to working with the foundation in its ongoing efforts to encourage young boys and girls in the slum areas of my home country on how through football they can gain inspiration and hope.”

The academy is expected to be one of the kind in the western region that is known as the bedrock of Kenya’s football talent.

The region, alongside Nyanza and Nairobi, has produced most notable talents from the past including Wanyama’s father, Noah Wanyama, who played for AFC Leopards and later became an official.

The region has also given birth to talent for other disciplines that include rugby and cricket.

Wanyama is still in the country after participating in the African Cup of Nations double-header qualifiers against Comoros on November 11 and 15.

Kenya drew 1-1 in the first match in Nairobi before they went on to lose 2-1 in the reverse fixture in Moroni. The results mean Kenya’s chances of earning another Afcon slot are slim, especially after Egypt defeated Togo away.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) have claimed only time will tell whether midfielder Clatous Chama has signed a contract extension to stay with rivals Simba SC.

The Zambian midfielder has been in the news for the last two months with Yanga keen to sign the player when his contract comes to an end in June 2021.

However, three days ago, Simba chairman Mohamed Dewji revealed Chama had signed a two-year contract extension to stay at the Mainland Premier League champions.

But in a quick response, Yanga through their official Antonio Nugaz, have now said that fans will have to wait and see whether Chama will remain a Simba player as they have claimed.

“Time will tell, because they have already said and put it very clear he has signed a contract extension, for now, we cannot say anything but time will tell the truth of the matter,” Nugaz said as quoted by Sokaletu.

On confirming Chama had signed a two-year extension, Dewji said as quoted by Azam TV: “There has been a lot of noise concerning [Clatous] Chama and [Meddie] Kagere's futures and a number of other players but let me confirm, as Simba we have plans and we cannot do things that we might react later on when things have gone wrong.

“Simba are always proactive. “Chama has not left for anywhere. We have signed a deal with him already and the speculation doing the rounds that he has left for Yanga is not true.

“What is true is that Chama has signed a new contract with us and will remain with Simba until the end of the 2022 season. So, he has got a half-season and another two years to play for us.

“So, let us end the speculation and as the chairman, I have never lied. Chama is a done deal and has signed a binding contract with Simba.

“I want to urge our members and fans to know that we have officially reached an agreement with Chama. Period.”

The chair also stated why they had to move with speed and tie down the former Lusaka Dynamos star, who won the Most Valuable Player award last season despite strong links with their Kariakoo rivals.

“Chama loves Simba, and we as the officials, fans, and members love him too. He is a good player who has won five trophies with us, he has been an MVP and given his importance and his stay we could not have let him go,” he added.

Chama signed for Simba from Lusaka Dynamos of Zambia.

Simba SC have included midfielder Bernard Morrison in their squad to face Coastal Union in a Mainland Premier League match on Saturday.

The Ghanaian midfielder has missed three matches, including the Kariakoo derby against rivals Young Africans (Yanga SC), after he was banned and fined by the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF)

Morrison was suspended and fined Tsh500, 000 after he allegedly fought a Ruvu Shooting player in a match Simba went on to lose 1-0.

The midfielder, who signed for Simba from Yanga, also missed matches against Mwadui FC and Kagera Sugar.

Morrison has now been named in the squad which left for Arusha on Thursday in readiness for Saturday's match, with coach Sven Vandenbroeck hinting at giving him a starting role in the away match.

“It is every coach’s happiness to have your full squad available and I am happy to have Morrison back for the match against Coastal Union,” Vandenbroeck told reporters.

“I don’t know if he will start but I have him in the squad and we have forgotten about the past now, he is in the squad, and who knows, maybe he can start for us.”

However, one player who will miss the clash against Coastal Union is winger Garson Fraga, who is still nursing a knee injury sustained during their league match against Biashara United.

In a recent interview, Vandenbroeck admitted that his absence has affected his plans not only in the race to retain the league title but also for the Caf Champions League match against Plateau United FC.

“Fraga was in my plans for the Caf competition but unfortunately he is not recovered yet,” Vandenbroeck is quoted by Sokaletu.

“He is among the players I wanted to use in the competition because he has the experience to play in the biggest stage and I want to admit his absence has forced me back to the drawing board.

“We will not have him for the two-legged encounter but we are also looking at the other players we have in the squad to see how they can fit in and fill his void.”

Simba qualified for the Caf competition for the third straight campaign after winning the 2019/20 title with seven matches to spare, but they were eliminated in the preliminary stage by Mozambican champions UD Songo at their own turf when they went down 1-0 in August 2019.

Kaizer Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung has elaborated on what he meant by saying that the club is a family business.

It was all the way back in 2011, when Motaung, incensed by criticism from the supporters, lashed out:

“As for those who dream that Bobby Motaung must step down, that Bobby Motaung must go, it is a dream! Bobby Motaung goes nowhere. I’m not elected here. I was not appointed by ANC or IFP… I will be here as long as this company exists,” Motaung was quoted saying by KickOff at the time.

“I didn’t apply with a CV for the job, so that must be clear to those that have a dream that Bobby Motaung must step down. We have an organisational structure that we must respect."

Motaung is, of course, the son of Kaizer Motaung, chairman and founder of South Africa's best-supported football club.

Those words have never been forgotten by many of the team's supporters. Now, nine years after those comments, and with the club struggling in the middle of a five-year trophy drought, Bobby Motaung has further elaborated on what he previously said.

He said he was talking about the Chiefs football family.

“Family business, my brother, is about people that are around the team. It’s not my mother, my father, my uncle. No no no, I was talking about the Kaizer Chiefs family.” Motaung reportedly told SAFM, as quoted by the South African.

“It’s about the players, the supporters. They all our family. I think those comments were just misplaced because of what I was saying on the day. I was raising a different point. I was not meaning it’s my business."

“[So] don’t break the Kaizer Chiefs family. Don’t break the supporters and players. The coaches and players were criticised and ridiculed including myself.

"In the context of family, we are a family. The Amakhosi family was built by our chairman. It’s a huge family. I would have been stupid to say it’s my family business.”

Amakhosi have endured a tough start to the new season under coach Gavin Hunt and have won just two of six matches in all competitions.

They next take on Golden Arrows in Durban in a league match on Saturday afternoon.

After an engrossing international break, attention returns to La Liga this weekend, as Real Madrid travel away to Villarreal.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that this is one of the biggest matches Zinedine Zidane and his side will face between now and the end of the year, a period which will surely prove crucial in their bid to win a record-extending 35th Spanish title.

After appearing to turn their form around with the 3-1 victory away at Barcelona in October’s Clasico, Real have a point to prove once again after they were humbled 4-1 at Valencia earlier this month.

In this sense, the international break came at a bad time, denying them the chance to rebound quickly, but Los Merengues will be champing at the bit to respond strongly when they go away to Villarreal on Saturday.

It won’t be an easy fixture, with the Yellow Submarine currently second in the top flight.

Unai Emery is busy rebuilding his reputation in Castellon following a testing spell at Arsenal, and he’s currently getting the best out of a talented group who can certainly hurt opposition defences.

The ex-Gunners boss, however, has a poor record against Real and Zidane, having lost all three matches against them—either with Sevilla or Paris Saint-Germain.

Real definitely need to improve at the back if they’re to keep a clean sheet away from home, with Villarreal’s passing game among the most refined in the league so far this season.

Last term, Los Merengues’ backline held firm to get them over the line as Barcelona threw the title away, but so far this season, it’s been an area of concern for Zidane.

It’s not too much to say that it’s imperative Real use this weekend’s Estadio de la Ceramica showdown to reaffirm their standing as title favourites and reassert themselves in the race for the championship.

Despite suffering a muscle injury during the Valencia defeat, Karim Benzema should be fit enough to be involved against Villarreal, having returned to the gym on Wednesday.

He will be a massive boost, having scored at least one goal in each of his last four games in all competitions—five in total. He hasn’t scored in five consecutive matches since April 2019, but can he replicate that impressive feat this time around.

The news is much bleaker for Fede Valverde, who suffered a broken leg against Valencia and will be out of action for several months, while Ferland Mendy could be considered at left-back if Zidane looks to reshuffle his backline after the defeat last time out.

How Mendy—or Marcelo—fares against Villarreal’s right-winger Samuel Chukwueze could be one of the defining duels of the match.

The Nigeria international has reportedly caught the eye of some of Europe’s bigger clubs in recent transfer windows—including Manchester United—and he’s previously demonstrated the potential to raise his game for the big fixtures.

It remains to be seen whether Eden Hazard and Casemiro will be available, having missed the Valencia fixture due to Covid-19, and if they play, it may give Real the advantage in the midfield battle.

Villarreal’s midfield trio—Vicente Iborra, Francis Coquelin and Dani Parejo—is an area of strength, but can they keep Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Martin Odegaard at bay?

Encouragingly for Real, Villarreal are without a win in this fixture since Roberto Soldado inspired them to a triumph in the 2015-16 season, while the champions’ last three trips to the Ceramica have all resulted in 2-2 draws.

Last term, Gareth Bale was the hero, netting twice to salvage a point for Real, but Zidane will need another star man to step to the fore this time around.

After an engrossing international break, attention returns to La Liga this weekend, as Real Madrid travel away to Villarreal.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that this is one of the biggest matches Zinedine Zidane and his side will face between now and the end of the year, a period which will surely prove crucial in their bid to win a record-extending 35th Spanish title.

After appearing to turn their form around with the 3-1 victory away at Barcelona in October’s Clasico, Real have a point to prove once again after they were humbled 4-1 at Valencia earlier this month.

In this sense, the international break came at a bad time, denying them the chance to rebound quickly, but Los Merengues will be champing at the bit to respond strongly when they go away to Villarreal on Saturday.

It won’t be an easy fixture, with the Yellow Submarine currently second in the top flight.

Unai Emery is busy rebuilding his reputation in Castellon following a testing spell at Arsenal, and he’s currently getting the best out of a talented group who can certainly hurt opposition defences.

The ex-Gunners boss, however, has a poor record against Real and Zidane, having lost all three matches against them—either with Sevilla or Paris Saint-Germain.

Real definitely need to improve at the back if they’re to keep a clean sheet away from home, with Villarreal’s passing game among the most refined in the league so far this season.

Last term, Los Merengues’ backline held firm to get them over the line as Barcelona threw the title away, but so far this season, it’s been an area of concern for Zidane.

It’s not too much to say that it’s imperative Real use this weekend’s Estadio de la Ceramica showdown to reaffirm their standing as title favourites and reassert themselves in the race for the championship.

Despite suffering a muscle injury during the Valencia defeat, Karim Benzema should be fit enough to be involved against Villarreal, having returned to the gym on Wednesday.

He will be a massive boost, having scored at least one goal in each of his last four games in all competitions—five in total. He hasn’t scored in five consecutive matches since April 2019, but can he replicate that impressive feat this time around.

The news is much bleaker for Fede Valverde, who suffered a broken leg against Valencia and will be out of action for several months, while Ferland Mendy could be considered at left-back if Zidane looks to reshuffle his backline after the defeat last time out.

How Mendy—or Marcelo—fares against Villarreal’s right-winger Samuel Chukwueze could be one of the defining duels of the match.

The Nigeria international has reportedly caught the eye of some of Europe’s bigger clubs in recent transfer windows—including Manchester United—and he’s previously demonstrated the potential to raise his game for the big fixtures.

It remains to be seen whether Eden Hazard and Casemiro will be available, having missed the Valencia fixture due to Covid-19, and if they play, it may give Real the advantage in the midfield battle.

Villarreal’s midfield trio—Vicente Iborra, Francis Coquelin and Dani Parejo—is an area of strength, but can they keep Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Martin Odegaard at bay?

Encouragingly for Real, Villarreal are without a win in this fixture since Roberto Soldado inspired them to a triumph in the 2015-16 season, while the champions’ last three trips to the Ceramica have all resulted in 2-2 draws.

Last term, Gareth Bale was the hero, netting twice to salvage a point for Real, but Zidane will need another star man to step to the fore this time around.

After an engrossing international break, attention returns to La Liga this weekend, as Real Madrid travel away to Villarreal.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that this is one of the biggest matches Zinedine Zidane and his side will face between now and the end of the year, a period which will surely prove crucial in their bid to win a record-extending 35th Spanish title.

After appearing to turn their form around with the 3-1 victory away at Barcelona in October’s Clasico, Real have a point to prove once again after they were humbled 4-1 at Valencia earlier this month.

In this sense, the international break came at a bad time, denying them the chance to rebound quickly, but Los Merengues will be champing at the bit to respond strongly when they go away to Villarreal on Saturday.

It won’t be an easy fixture, with the Yellow Submarine currently second in the top flight.

Unai Emery is busy rebuilding his reputation in Castellon following a testing spell at Arsenal, and he’s currently getting the best out of a talented group who can certainly hurt opposition defences.

The ex-Gunners boss, however, has a poor record against Real and Zidane, having lost all three matches against them—either with Sevilla or Paris Saint-Germain.

Real definitely need to improve at the back if they’re to keep a clean sheet away from home, with Villarreal’s passing game among the most refined in the league so far this season.

Last term, Los Merengues’ backline held firm to get them over the line as Barcelona threw the title away, but so far this season, it’s been an area of concern for Zidane.

It’s not too much to say that it’s imperative Real use this weekend’s Estadio de la Ceramica showdown to reaffirm their standing as title favourites and reassert themselves in the race for the championship.

Despite suffering a muscle injury during the Valencia defeat, Karim Benzema should be fit enough to be involved against Villarreal, having returned to the gym on Wednesday.

He will be a massive boost, having scored at least one goal in each of his last four games in all competitions—five in total. He hasn’t scored in five consecutive matches since April 2019, but can he replicate that impressive feat this time around.

The news is much bleaker for Fede Valverde, who suffered a broken leg against Valencia and will be out of action for several months, while Ferland Mendy could be considered at left-back if Zidane looks to reshuffle his backline after the defeat last time out.

How Mendy—or Marcelo—fares against Villarreal’s right-winger Samuel Chukwueze could be one of the defining duels of the match.

The Nigeria international has reportedly caught the eye of some of Europe’s bigger clubs in recent transfer windows—including Manchester United—and he’s previously demonstrated the potential to raise his game for the big fixtures.

It remains to be seen whether Eden Hazard and Casemiro will be available, having missed the Valencia fixture due to Covid-19, and if they play, it may give Real the advantage in the midfield battle.

Villarreal’s midfield trio—Vicente Iborra, Francis Coquelin and Dani Parejo—is an area of strength, but can they keep Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Martin Odegaard at bay?

Encouragingly for Real, Villarreal are without a win in this fixture since Roberto Soldado inspired them to a triumph in the 2015-16 season, while the champions’ last three trips to the Ceramica have all resulted in 2-2 draws.

Last term, Gareth Bale was the hero, netting twice to salvage a point for Real, but Zidane will need another star man to step to the fore this time around.

Mumbai City FC midfielder Hugo Boumous has admitted that facing former side FC Goa in the 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL) will be an emotional affair.

"It's a special game because I spent the last three seasons there. We won trophies and it was nice. Of course, it will be a bit emotional but not that much. It will be nice to play against a few former team-mates but most of the players and the coach (at FC Goa) have also changed. So it will just be another game to win and we have to be very focused on that," he told Goal.

The Frenchman joined the Goan ISL franchise, who at the time had Sergio Lobera as head coach, during the January 2018 transfer window. Since then, he has improved in every season and helped the Goan club win the 2019 Super Cup and also be the first team to win the ISL League Winners' Shield which guaranteed the club a spot in the AFC Champions League group stages. 

With 11 goals and 100 assists last season, he was awarded the Hero of the League award and it must be noted that no player has won this gong consecutively. 

"I don't think about that (winning the Hero of the League award again). This is not what I'm focused on," he stated. "I'm focused only to do the best for the team as I can and help my team-mates in the best possible way to play nice football and get the best possible results. This is because we have great ambition at Mumbai this season."

The 25-year-old started his career with the youth team of French side Laval and was subsequently promoted to the senior team. Thereafter, he joined Moroccan club Moghreb Tetouan where Sergio Lobera was the head coach. He spent one season under Lobera before the Spanish coach decided to join FC Goa. Less than six months later, Boumous was in Goa to join his former coach. After Lobera parted ways with FC Goa before the end of the league stage last season, the former Las Palmas coach was snapped by Mumbai City FC and it wasn't surprising to see Boumous follow in his footsteps.

"We have built a strong relationship from our time together but what makes the difference is that he gives me a lot of freedom to express my game in my position. The fact that he gives me a lot of confidence which allows me to express myself on the pitch in the best possible manner. This is the best for me and also the team, because my first target is to help my team shine."

Coming to Mumbai City, he had nothing but praise for City Football Group (CFG) who have recently taken over the ISL franchise. He mentioned that the aim of the club is not just win trophies but also to play an attacking brand of football which would be attractive to Indian fans.

"The City Football Group put the team in the best possible condition. They provide us with all what we need.  Of course, City Footbal Group wants to play a certain football with a certain philosophy," he said.

"We want to play beautiful football and I think that this is what we will try to achieve with our coach Sergio Lobera and my team-mates. This is what we are working on in the pre-season."

Mumbai City, before their game with FC Goa where besides Boumous, Ahmed Jahouh, Mourtada Fall and Mandar Rao Dessai will be reunited with their former side, face NorthEast United in their season opener on Saturday.

"It can be a big test against NorthEast because it's the opener and we didn't get a lot of time to prepare ourselves. The pre-season has been very special (unique) with the restrictions (staying in the bio-bubble). 

"At the same time, it has been a short time to work together. I think we have 19 new players. So it's difficult, in a short time to know each other very well - to create competition on the pitch is also very important. 

"So we don't know what we can expect but one thing we can be sure of is that we will be ready. We will be 100 per cent motivated to get the three points," warned Boumous.

Ferran Corominas will not be part of the seventh edition of the Indian Super League (ISL).

The Spaniard, ever since he joined the Gaurs' outfit in 2017, took the league by storm. Having scored his first goal 25 minutes in his FC Goa debut in the 3-2 win against Chennaiyin FC, he made it a habit to score goals and was certainly an important cog in the club’s ambition to play a beautiful brand of attacking football.

The former Espanyol forward signed off with 48 goals from 57 matches to become the league's all-time top scorer. He scored a total of 55 goals in 64 appearances for the club in all competitions and also holds the record for most number of goals (18) by a player in a single edition of the ISL. He also has won back-to-back Golden Boot awards along with the Hero of the League award when helped Goa reach the 2018-19 ISL final and won the 2019 Super Cup.

Corominas was one of the most consistent performers as he achieved double figures for three consecutive seasons, a feat no player has been able to match. He also has scored the fastest hat-trick in the ISL (seven minutes) in a 5-2 win over Kerala Blasters.

Following Corominas' statement in an interview with Goal that the Goan club "hasn’t valued" him for his performance, he went on to join Segunda Division B side Atletico Baleares.

FC Goa, it must be said have done a commendable job in signing Igor Angulo, who scored 88 goals in 154 games for Gornik Zabrze in Poland. Certainly, they have replaced a top player like Corominas with another player who knows how to score goals consistently.

In one of his first interactions after penning a deal with the Gaurs, the 37-year-old didn't show any signs of pressure of having to replace Corominas. It must be noted that Angulo has previously shared the dressing room with Corominas at the U-21 Spain national team.

"I know that I am going to replace Coro (Corominas) because he has scored so many goals for the club, but I'm used to having this kind of pressure. In the last four years, I had the pressure to be the best for the team," Angulo stated.

Having represented Athletic Bilbao in the La Liga early in his career, he later joined Ejica and the top scorer in the  2009-10 Segunda Division B with nine goals from 19 games.

Angulo’s best performance in Spain was for Real Union where he scored 13 goals from 32 appearances.

Then in Greece, he represented Apollon Smyrnis and Platanias before moving to Polish side Gornik Zabrze in 2016 where he would eventually be included in the club's Hall of Fame.

Angulo played a vital role in Gornik Zabrze gaining promotion to the Ekstraklasa - the Polish top division - as I Liga runners-up in his first season as the club's top scorer (17). He then became the league's second highest goalscorer with 23 goals besides helping the team qualify for the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League. He subsequently went on to win the Golden Boot with 24 goals from 37 games.

Having helped Gornik Zabrze qualify for the UEFA Europa League after a gap of 23, the 36-year-old scored in the Polish club's first tie that ended in a 1-0 win over Zaria Balti in the European competition via a glancing header from around the edge of the box to make his European debut a memorable one.

This season at FC Goa as well, just as Corominas had started bagging goals in Spain during the club's pre-season friendlies ahead of ISL season four in Spain, Angulo has also scored in each of the three friendlies Goa has played so far.

Certainly a good start and FC Goa fans would hope that he produces the goods on his debut for the club against Bengaluru FC on Sunday.